Tuesday night’s clash against Middlesbrough is almost a carbon copy of last season’s trip to Teesside for Leeds United, in which Daniel Farke’s men needed wins to secure automatic promotion.
The Whites went to Middlesbrough last season after one win in their previous five games which included losses to Blackburn and Coventry. They ran away with a 4-3 win, a stunning game as Leeds secured a win.
Leeds had gone into the break 3-2 ahead. Isaiah Jones scored Luton’s goal on Saturday and a year ago, he opened the scoring – only for Crysencio Summerville and Patrick Bamford to put Leeds 2-1 ahead.
Emmanuel Latte Lath is a £17.75m MLS record now, but he made it 2-2 before Willy Gnonto put Leeds 3-2 ahead on 39 minutes. Leeds eventually ran out 4-3 winners despite a nervy finish to the match.
Patrick Bamford post-match interview after Middlesbrough win
Fast forward until now, Bamford is fit again after 30 minutes against Luton – his first outing since picking up an injury against Blackburn on New Year’s Day. He looked sharp, almost scoring to put Leeds 2-1 up.
The situation is very similar. A trip to The Riverside in April, with Leeds in poor form and really needing a win to keep automatic promotion hopes alive. Bamford spoke to Sky Sports after the win last April.
He shared how Farke got his tactics right to win the game, even if Boro made it 4-3 late on: “Look, we want to stick to our beliefs and processes but we said at half-time that the way Middlesbrough play.
“[He said] it’s going to be tough, we’re going to suffer. We said we had to be patient, enjoy suffering, trust in being compact. We are good counter-attacking. Was all going to plan until the last five minutes.”
Why Patrick Bamford could be handed Leeds United start
Let’s be honest, Bamford did more in his 30 minutes than Joel Piroe managed in his entire 79 minutes – but that wasn’t hard. The Dutchman was synonymous unless it was losing duels – Piroe lost 16 of 17.
It is now six games without a goal or an assist for Piroe. The striker is struggling to rediscover his best form and with Illan Meslier and Brenden Aaronson dropped for poor form, surely Piroe is next in line.
Can Bamford be relied upon for a start and to play 60-70 minutes? Is Mateo Joseph trusted to play from the off after just three goals this season? Farke has more questions to answer going into Tuesday night.
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